"Having spent the last week in Washington DC and New York for work, what struck me is the outward and very open support and public gratitude shown by US citizens, businesses and agencies towards current and ex-military personnel."

It is estimated that both New Zealand and Australia collectively have over 100,000 contemporary veterans that have served in operational campaigns from places such as East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Croatia since the Vietnam War.

This number is significant when a recent Australian study showed that more than 20% of serving members would experience a mental health condition in a given year, while more than 50% of veterans will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

We ask a lot of these men and women, both while they are in service, and in terms of the impact their military experiences can have on their future lives, including their health, their careers, and their whanau/family.

Height’s support of the military resettlement programme – advising veterans starting up their own businesses – is a very small extension to show our genuine support of our veterans and current service personnel. Providing support for veterans to transition and adjust to civilian life after the military is one way we can help.